Practice, practice, practice: Sometimes the technology associated with a remote interview makes people uncomfortable. Practice on Skype with a friend; find your best angle; and get comfortable with the controls, volume and camera position, for example. Do the interview on a laptop or computer screen versus an iPad. Don't wear white, since it is a bad choice on camera; wear a blue shirt instead. Keep jewelry to a minimum. Wear a jacket if you are prone to sweating when you are nervous.
"While in-person interviews are always preferable, remote ones have become the norm, except for C-Suite executives. If you are offered a choice, always go with the in-person interview. But if not, you can take the steps necessary to leave a good impression," Harris adds.
Nine Tips and Strategies for Remote Job Interviews
Nine Tips and Strategies for Remote Job Interviews
With nearly half of all interviews for technology-related jobs being conducted remotely, job seekers should prepare for them just as they would for an in-person interview at the company's own offices, say experts at Harris Allied, a New York City-based executive search firm.
"More and more companies are conducting interviews with job candidates via phone, Skype or video conference. This is especially true for first interviews where a hiring manager is simply trying to pre-screen candidates for the team or when a candidate lives too far away to justify flying in for a quick interview at this early stage in the process," says Harris Allied managing partner Kathy Harris. "But people are not always comfortable with the virtual aspect of this kind of interview. We have all seen those videos that poke fun at the dynamics of conference calls. Unfortunately, lack of preparation for a remote interview can put even the best candidate in an unfavorable light and ruin their chances for a next-round, onsite interview. The saying 'failing to prepare is preparing to fail' really rings true in these situations."
Harris offers the following guidance for job seekers who stand a good chance of having to be interviewed remotely.
